Station Astronauts Power Up Robonaut 2

HOUSTON — Electricity surged through Robonaut 2 for the first time on Aug. 22, signaling the prospects for a “first motion” in several weeks.

R2, a broad-shouldered experimental two-armed robot, was launched to the International Space Station aboard NASA’s STS-133 mission in February. Robonaut 2 was stowed in ...